Application of auxiliary lighting in automatic hitch operation

Abstract

A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller illuminating one or more exterior lights directed toward a rear of the vehicle, acquiring image data from the vehicle, and searching for a trailer within an area illuminated by the one or more exterior lights. The controller further executes an automated backing process upon identifying the trailer within the area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer, and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the trailer during reversing of the vehicle toward the trailer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle hitching assistance system, comprising:
 a controller:
 illuminating one or more exterior lights directed toward a rear of the vehicle; 
 acquiring image data from the vehicle; 
 searching for a trailer within an area illuminated by the one or more exterior lights; and 
 executing an automated backing process upon identifying the trailer within the area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer, and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the trailer during reversing of the vehicle toward the trailer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller further:
 while searching for the trailer, determines if a sensing condition and a visibility condition are met;   executes the automated backing process, including identifying the coupler of the trailer and outputting the steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align the hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler as a part of a first hitch assist mode when the sensing condition and visibility condition are met.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller further:
 implements a second hitch assistance mode when one of the sensing condition and the visibility condition are not met, the second hitch assistance mode including presenting to the user an image of a best fit path to align the hitch ball with the coupler for guiding user control of the vehicle in reversing the vehicle toward the trailer.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller further:
 receives a selection signal from the vehicle corresponding with a user selection of either the first or second hitch assistance mode before executing the automated backing process; and   causes the vehicle to present an indication that the first hitch assist mode may not be selected when one of the sensing condition and the visibility condition are not met.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the area illuminated by the one or more exterior lights directed toward the rear of the vehicle includes a preselected area included in the image data, the preselected area being less than a total field of the image data in directions corresponding with both a longitudinal distance between the vehicle and the trailer, by an amount corresponding with a maximum detection distance, a minimum detection distance corresponding with a proportion of the trailer relative to the total field, and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal distance by an amount corresponding with a known steering limit of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller illuminates the one or more exterior lights directed toward a rear of the vehicle, acquires image data from the vehicle, and searches for the trailer within the area illuminated by the one or more exterior lights as a part of an initial alignment process, including:
 searching for the trailer positioned past a minimum distance from the vehicle and within the preselected area within the image data.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the initial alignment process, further includes:
 when the trailer is not identified within the preselected area, presenting an indication to a driver of the vehicle to reposition the vehicle such that the trailer is within the preselected area and removing the indication when the trailer is identified within the preselected area, the trailer remaining past the minimum distance from the vehicle; and   after completion of the initial alignment process, executing the automated backing process.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller acquires the image data from an imaging system included with the vehicle, the imaging system having at least one camera, the total field of the image data corresponding with a total field of view of the at least one camera. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the controller outputs the steering signal to a steering system included with the vehicle; and   the controller derives the steering signal based on at least a maximum steering angle of the steering system.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the preselected area within the image data is defined by a designated boundary comprising respective portions based on the maximum detection distance, the minimum detection distance, and the maximum steering angle of the steering system. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a steering system;   at least one exterior light mounted on and directed away from a rear of the vehicle; and   a controller:
 illuminating one exterior light; 
 acquiring image data from the vehicle; 
 searching for a trailer within an area illuminated by the one or more exterior lights; and 
 executing an automated backing process upon identifying the trailer within the area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer, and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle steering system to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with a coupler of the trailer during reversing of the vehicle toward the trailer. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the controller further:
 while searching for the trailer, determines if a sensing condition and a visibility condition are met;   executes the automated backing process, including identifying the coupler of the trailer and outputting the steering signal to the vehicle steering system to cause the vehicle to steer to align the hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler as a part of a first hitch assist mode when the sensing condition and visibility condition are met.   
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 12 , further including a vehicle human-machine interface, wherein:
 the controller further implements a second hitch assistance mode when one of the sensing condition and the visibility condition are not met, the second hitch assistance mode including presenting, via the vehicle-human machine interface, an image of a best fit path to align the hitch ball with the coupler for guiding user control of the vehicle in reversing the vehicle toward the trailer.   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the controller further:
 receives a selection signal from the vehicle-human machine interface corresponding with a user selection of either the first or second hitch assistance mode before executing the automated backing process; and   causes the vehicle to present, on the vehicle-human machine interface, an indication that the first hitch assist mode may not be selected when one of the sensing condition and the visibility condition are not met.   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the area illuminated by the at least one exterior lights directed toward the rear of the vehicle includes a preselected area included in the image data, the preselected area being less than a total field of the image data in directions corresponding with both a longitudinal distance between the vehicle and the trailer, by an amount corresponding with a maximum detection distance, a minimum detection distance corresponding with a proportion of the trailer relative to the total field, and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal distance by an amount corresponding with a known steering limit of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the controller illuminates the at least one exterior lights directed toward a rear of the vehicle, acquires image data from the vehicle, and searches for the trailer within the area illuminated by the one or more exterior lights as a part of an initial alignment process, including:
 searching for the trailer positioned past a minimum distance from the vehicle and within the preselected area within the image data.   
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the initial alignment process, further includes:
 when the trailer is not identified within the preselected area, presenting an indication to a driver of the vehicle to reposition the vehicle such that the trailer is within the preselected area and removing the indication when the trailer is identified within the preselected area, the trailer remaining past the minimum distance from the vehicle; and   after completion of the initial alignment process, executing the automated backing process.   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the controller acquires the image data from an imaging system included with the vehicle, the imaging system having at least one camera, the total field of the image data corresponding with a total field of view of the at least one camera. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the controller derives the steering signal based on at least a maximum steering angle of the steering system. 
     
     
         20 . A method for assisting a vehicle in hitching with a trailer, comprising:
 illuminating one or more exterior lights directed toward a rear of the vehicle;   acquiring image data for a field of view away from a rear of the vehicle;   searching for a trailer within an area illuminated by the one or more exterior lights; and   executing an automated backing process, upon identifying the trailer within the area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer, and outputting a steering signal to a vehicle steering system to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with a coupler of the trailer during reversing of the vehicle toward the trailer.